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All posts copyright 2013–2020 by Mark Aldrich

About Mark Aldrich

My name is Mark Aldrich. I am a one-time winner of the New York Press Association’s Best Humor Columnist award in its annual “Better Newspaper” contest. This blog, “The Gad About Town,” is about many topics, from social habits to baseball to art and movies. I am a gad about town.

I have been writing about social justice issues for decades and have been participating in the social media movement to free Saudi blogger Raif Badawi since January of this year (a dozen columns, several of which have been re-posted on the RaifBadawi.org web site).

I currently live in Goshen, NY. Up until May 2014, I lived in New Paltz, NY, which I first moved to in 1990, left in 1996, returned to in 1997, left in 2000, and returned to in 2006 have always loved. I have had many writing and copy editing jobs, including editing websites and creating instruction manuals. In the early 1990s, I became a writer and performer with a radio comedy group, the Magnificent Glass Pelican, which continues to produce and perform improvisational comedy.

I was diagnosed with a form of spinocerebellar ataxia in 2012, which was revised to spinal muscular atrophy in 2014. My mobility is impaired, and I write about issues concerning people with disabilities as well.

All that said, I try to publish humorous columns a couple times a week.

Well since your good at HUMOR,…..I just can not make this humorous at all!!??….You are my WINNER of a copy of my current book, “Addicted To Dimes”…That’s if you haven’t read yet?

You always pop up on my recovery blog with support, humor, and a wee bit of Sweetness each visit…LOL. I appreciated your kind Happy Anniversary wish’s. Yes I know, it’s only a book not a MILLION dollars, but it’s the best I can do 🙂 LOL.

If you will EMAIL me your address to where you’d like me to mail the book which will be UPS, to tomcatt59@yahoo.com
I’ll shall get it out to you pronto!

With things not working as they should on WordPress I took it as a chance to roam around a bit and I found your post on Sylvia Plath’s words. Very interesting — much more interesting than the prompt (which seemed to come from BrainQuotes.com — yeah, I’m a snob having taught so many people who were actually told “Find an interesting quote on the internet and use it to open your essays.” Context didn’t matter.) Beautiful work all over! Thank you, also, for your encouragement on my blog. It has meant a lot.

Hi Mark, it takes me a while before reading blog-friends’ about pages, I am so glad I finally visited yours! Sorry about your physical woes but I am so happy to hear that you are treating yourself with regular doses of hysteria, comedy, laughter, guffaws and belly laughs. Laughter is a potent medicine, free and legal too! Be well my friend! 😀

Thanks, Mark, for the support you’ve shown by following my blog and liking my posts. In times of darkness, when I think, what the hell am I doing here, acting like the world gives a damn about what I have to say, you have been my loyal, albeit silent, knight. I’ve chosen to believe you believe in me, and that faith spurs me to keep putting myself out there in hopes of doing something good in the world. I like your panache and hope we can connect more over time. Take care … Linda

Thanks for following The Immortal Jukebox Mark. I hope you are finding lots to entertain you and maybe making some discoveries. If you haven’t visited for a while check it out again. Please feel free to add comments. Regards Thom.

I just wanted to wish you an early Happy New Year. Thank you so much for your words of encouragement this past year. May you find renewed fulfillments in your blogs this New Year and may your blogging families ever increase. Blessings. Roger

I came across your blog today by way of the daily prompt. My brother-in-law was diagnosed with OPCA many years ago (his mother was diagnosed with it late in life and he was told he had a 50% chance of having it). He started having some balance problems in 2005 (I believe). He was in his 40s when the neurologist told him he also had OPCA. A few years back, he went to see a neurologist at Vanderbilt and his diagnosis was “revised” to spinocerebellar ataxia. His latest tests show is is stable but he feels his symptoms are worse. He struggles with ataxia and now some speech problems. I’m very interested in reading more of your blog. I am sorry for your physical disabilities but am glad you write about it and share with others. Nice to “meet” you Mark.

Hey, Mark. Sorry I’ve not been able to read/comment of late. So much going on! Anyway, I ran across this call for applications for residencies for writers (and artists) with spinal cord injury. Not sure how interested you are in traveling to Vermont, but anyway, passing this link/name along. (“RESIDENCIES FOR ARTISTS AND WRITERS WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY: http://www.artistcommunities.org/creativeaccess
In 2017, the Creative Access Fellowships Program – in partnership with the Alliance of Artists Communities – will expand to include 12 residency stays at four host sites: Vermont Studio Center (Johnson, VT), PLAYA (Summerlake, OR), Ragdale Foundation (Lake Forest, IL), and Santa Fe Art Institute (Santa Fe, NM), selected for their accessible facilities, innovative programming, and reputations for excellence. Creative Access offers artists with SCI the rare opportunity for concentrated time dedicated to their creative practice in a supportive residency community. Twelve awardees will receive the invaluable opportunity of a two to eight-week residency at one of the four host sites, including room and board, a $1,000 stipend, and travel award for a personal assistant/caregiver if needed.”)
It’s from the 27 Jan. 2017 Funds for Writers newsletter, which I highly recommend. BTW, this newsletter also says King Features is looking for columnists who want syndication, if that applies to you currently. Good luck! Oh, and FF to erase this or moderate it out once you’ve gotten what you need from it. Cheers, Leigh

Thanks for the follow! How have you been and how’s your blog doing?
I created a blogger tips group to connect with all my long last WordPress blogger friends, and to help all of us to learn from each other. I would love for you to share your knowledge in the group and connect with other bloggers. Here’s the link:
Blogger Tips Group

Finally, here’s a blog I thought you may find interesting:
The Ripple Effect of Blogging

Hi Mark. It’s Terry R., I’ve met your before at noon in New Paltz, and not too long ago I saw you in Stone Ridge. I had a writerly topic I wanted to discuss with you. If you see this, drop me an email at terrence@coffeesystemhv.com, or give me a ring or a text at 845-399-2333.